Private First Class Stephen Paul Downing, II of Burkesville, Kentucky formerly of Waverly, Indiana was killed in action in Ar Ramadi, Iraq where he was stationed while assigned to the Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Division, Unit 15417 as an Ammunition Specialist. He had completed a 14 month tour in Korea and 3 weeks in Kuwait before being deployed to Iraq to augment or replace US Army Troops stationed there.

He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action and the Bronze Star for Meritorious service.

He was preceded in death by grandparents Mika and Sophie Popvich Racic and Elmer “Chub” Mitchell and Shirley Evelyn Downing Piper.